‘Goosebumps’ (2023) Recap – ‘The Vanishing – Stay Out of the Basement: Part II’

1/14/2025

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sam McCarthy and Galilea La Salvia in Episode 202 of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023) – ‘The Vanishing – Stay Out of the Basement: Part II’. (Photo Courtesy of Francisco Roman/Disney.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023).

For the most part, homages are something that are used in small does in television and film. Simply because the expectation is that the audience should be enjoying something fresh and new, and too many tributes will detract from that. So, the majority of creatives out there abide, and throw in subtle winks and nods to their influences to uphold that particular rule. But what’s fascinating about this, is that the horror genre doesn’t abide by that at all. Since you can easily find tips of the caps to the greats or tributes to stories that influenced what you’re currently watching. Because in the world of horror, respect to what came before is everything, likely because this is a genre that didn’t hit the mainstream for nearly a century.

If anything, the wonder of homage in the world of horror is top of mind today, simply because it showed up in the next episode of Goosebumps: The Vanishing. For ‘Say Out of the Basement: Part II’ was flush with tributes, in between… an attempt to pick up the pieces. For both Devin and Anthony were doing their best to put the events of ‘Part I’ behind them. So, they went about their lives. With Devin working to integrate into the town better by hanging out more with a newly single Frankie. Which came with trouble since Trey’s toxic nature interfered, and oddly enough, his fury helped to motivate some of the biggest tributes present in this story. Many of which were tied to Anthony’s unique journey in this story.

Because he discovered that a giant pulpy pod was growing in his arm, and he was quick to remove it and send samples of it to old friends. Who quickly informed him… that it wasn’t plant life, it was animal life that he had discovered, and it loved eating sweet, sweet, meat. Which prompted Anthony to get some dead mice and later, a lamb leg, to feed the little pod that was born of his flesh, and it was more than happy to enjoy a little sampling of meat and grew quickly. All of which, served as several tributes. Since in many ways, the gross removal of that pod tipped the show’s cap toward the body horror subgenre, and of course, the pod was a hybrid of the ones seen in Invasion of the Body Snatchers with a hint of Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors.

All of which made for some lovely tributes. The kind whose charm did not last… because there were scares to be found in this story. Because the pod and its potential for answers, fired up a bevy of old emotions for Anthony and made him a touch more reckless than usual. To the point where he felt the need to teach Trey a lesson, and that was a tipping point for the neighborhood bully. Who broke into the basement and had a hideous encounter with the pod-being. Who merged with Trey and created a hideous, angry nightmare that kidnapped Frankie in the hopes of finding peace. Which led to a wild showdown that seemingly led to the pod-being’s end. But alas, it turned to liquid and quickly inhabited Trey’s car, giving rise to more homages to come.

After all, that means a new iteration of ‘The Haunted Car’ awaits, and both old and new versions are in turn homages to Stephen King’s Christine and well, that was a perfect way to wrap up a story that did indeed pay proper tribute to the genre’s rich history. In a manner, that was downright scary. Because it was tough going, to watch Anthony carve that pod out of his arm and let’s be honest, Trey 2.0 was outright terrifying and disturbing, and that all came courtesy from one quality episode. One that really did let us know that season two of this show will lean harder into homage and into the scares, and that’s just fine. Since it shows that Goosebumps is continuing to grow, and it will be interesting to see what kinds of lovely tributes and bold scares await us as year two continues along. Until next time.

Watch ‘Goosebumps’

0 Comments